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Fez Travel Guide - Travel S Helper

Fez

travel guide

Fez, Morocco’s second biggest city, with a population of 1.1 million people.

Fès was the capital of modern Morocco until 1925, and it is currently the administrative center of the Fès-Meknès administrative area. Fes el Bali is the biggest of the city’s two historic medina sections. It is a World Heritage Site, and it is thought to be one of the world’s biggest urban pedestrian zones (car-free areas). The Institution of Al Quaraouiyine, established in 859, is the world’s oldest continually operating university. The city has been dubbed the “West’s Mecca” and the “Athens of Africa.”

Fez, located near the Atlas Mountains, has a Mediterranean climate with a significant continental impact, with temperatures ranging from chilly and rainy in the winter to dry and scorching days between June and September. Annual rainfall might exceed 600 mm (24 in). In December–January, the average high temperature is just 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit). The city’s greatest and lowest recorded temperatures are 46.7 °C (116 °F) and 8.2 °C (17 °F), respectively. The climate of Fez is quite similar to that of Seville and Córdoba in Andalusia, Spain. Snowfall happens once every five years on average.

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Fez | Introduction

Fez – Info Card

POPULATION :  1,112,072
FOUNDED :   789
TIME ZONE :
LANGUAGE :  Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy
RELIGION :  Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
AREA :  120 sq mi (320 km2)
ELEVATION :  1,350 ft (410 m)
COORDINATES :  34°2′N 5°0′W
SEX RATIO :  Male: 49.36
 Female: 50.64
ETHNIC : • Berbers 53.6%  • Arabs 32.7%  • Moriscos 10.2%  • Others 3.5%
AREA CODE :  55
POSTAL CODE :
DIALING CODE :   +212 55
WEBSITE : www.fes-city.com

Tourism in Fez

Fez (فاس) (French: “Fès”) is a Moroccan city most known for housing the world’s oldest university, Qarawiyyin University. It has an old World Heritage-listed walled city, which many compare to Jerusalem’s walled city.

Fez is Morocco’s historic capital and a famous metropolis of high Islamic civilisation. The huge, labyrinthine medina of Fes el-Bali, which is also the world’s biggest car-free urban zone, is the best-preserved ancient city in the Arab world. Donkeys, carriages, and motorcycles are used to transport products.

Useful Tips

Fez demands a complete mindset shift for a North American traveler, otherwise the journey will be quite stressful! Shopkeepers and tour guides are abrasive, and you’ll need to get accustomed to saying “no” often. They may, on the other hand, be genuine and nice even while attempting to sell you something, which is a concept that is foreign to North Americans, who believe that a commercial relationship is the polar opposite of honesty!

Women traveling alone may face harassment in Morocco, as they do abroad.

Mosques are closed to non-Muslims, although medersas are open to them (religious schools).

Bargaining is a centuries-old tradition that shows no signs of fading away. Moroccans barter for almost everything, with the exception of their utilities. Don’t trust anybody who tells you that prices are being “controlled” (which you will hear all the time). Every other souk advertises itself as a “Government Regulated Co-op.”

In the Ville Nouvelle, there is a solitary, true government-regulated fixed price store where all prices are listed, the items are of reasonable (though not exceptional) quality, and the sole bored cashier will just gaze at you blankly if you try to haggle with him. Request a ride to the “Artisana” from any hotel management or minicab driver. Artisanas sell only things manufactured by artists.

How To Travel To Fez

Get In - By plane

  • Royal Air Maroc flies to Fes-Saiss airport from Casablanca, London-Gatwick, and Paris-Orly on a daily basis.
  • Jetairfly. Charleroi and Brussels are both served twice weekly.
  • Ryanair offers flights from Girona (Barcelona), Madrid, Seville, Alicante, Frankfurt (Hahn), Düsseldorf (Weeze), Milano (Bergamo), Pisa, Bologna (from Nov 2010), Rome (Ciampino), Charleroi (Brussels), Eindhoven, Marseille and London Stansted to Fez, though not on a daily basis.
  • Transavia flies from Paris-Orly to Fez.
  • Easy Jet flies from Paris-CDG to Fez

The airport is roughly 15 kilometers from the city.

You may ride the bus if you do not have a lot of bags. The No. 16 local bus is now a “airport shuttle,” with a single ride costing “€2/20 DH.” It is a modern Volvo bus with a printed on the right side, but it is no longer plainly designated as bus 16. (Fez – Airport). It operates every 30 minutes until 7:30 p.m., after which you will have to hire a cab. It will transport you to the railway station and the journey will take around 25–30 minutes. On the bus, you may buy a ticket.

If you’re traveling from Fez to the airport, the bus stop is located to the left of the railway station entrance. You may purchase a ticket in advance at the bus stop’s cash counter. Allow plenty of time, however, since departures may be unpredictable.

Choose a cab if you want to take on a local challenge following your travel. The cost of a cab from the airport to the city is set at DH 120. (including the medina and the train station). A taxi stand is located just outside; an usher will assist you in finding one, but make sure you clarify the pricing before entering.

Get In - By train

The railway station Fès-Ville is located in Ville-Nouvelle, towards the northern end of the city. The Marrakech to Oujda and Tangier to Oujda railway lines both have frequent service.

Marrakech has eight daily arrivals. The train takes around seven hours and fifteen minutes (with many delays) and costs 295/195 dirhams. (First and second class).

The journey from Casablanca takes around 3 to 4 hours 20 minutes and departs hourly throughout the day. 165/110 dirhams was the price. (2nd class/1st class) In 2011, high-speed double-decker trains will be phased in on this line.

Tangier has five trains every day, each taking 4.5 hours and costing 165/110 dirhams (1st class/2nd class).

It takes two and a half to three hours from Rabat and costs 75-105 dirhams.

When all seats are occupied, railway cabins may be sweltering in the summer, with people standing everywhere. While first class cabins are sometimes problematic, they are normally well-air-conditioned and have allocated and numbered seats.

It’s important to be aware that there are hustlers on the trains entering Fez.

With the taxi meter, a small cab from the railway station to Bab Boujeloud costs about 10Dh. Insist on utilizing the meter, and if required, tell the cab driver to “khdm l-koontoor” (work the counter).

Get In - By bus

On the north side of the ancient city, between the Ain Zleten entrance to the medina and Bab Boujloud square, lies the historic bus station (Gare Routière). Inter-city taxis (grand taxis) are also available.

The CTM terminal (gare CTM) is located in the Atlas area of the ville nouvelle, 7 kilometers from the medina, however taxi stands are close.

While the gare routière offers additional routes at a lower cost, many tourists choose CTM because of its consistency and cleanliness. In any case, most CTM buses departing Fes depart from the gare routière and arrive at the gare CTM after 30 minutes of driving through town traffic. The CTM bus arriving in Fes, on the other hand, will drop you off at the CTM gare.

Get In - By car

Casablanca is roughly a 4-hour journey from Fez. The toll roadway between Rabat and Fez is in excellent shape.

Get In - By taxi

Tourists may travel via big taxi (intercity cab), which is more costly than railways. In a cab, seats are offered separately, thus you may need to buy many seats to ride in reasonable comfort. The cost of a journey from Fez to Casablanca is around 60-80 dirhams per seat. It’s worth noting that grand taxi fees are controlled, and it’s worth double-checking with the tourism board for the actual rates, since some drivers or hotels may offer inflated prices.

The cost of a ride in a petits taxi (local taxi) in Fez is seldom more than 15-20 dirhams. The medina of Fes el-Bali, on the other hand, is only accessible by automobile from a few spots. Bab Boujeloud and adjoining Place Batha, as well as Place R’cif, are popular drop-off places; parking is available at Ain Zleten on the medina’s northeast boundary. Another open-air parking option is available near Hotel Batha for 20 Dhs per day. If you plan on staying for more than one day, do not pay in advance.

How To Get Around In Fez

Ignore travel recommendations that warn you that you will get disoriented in the medina and will need to hire a guide. One of the simplest methods to navigate is to take one of the red cabs to the closest gate (bab) and then stroll till you get your bearings. There are gates located around the city, and cabs are inexpensive. A basic map of the attractions would assist, as can a GPS navigation app, but GPS readings are sometimes incorrect within the medina. Be prepared to make a few incorrect turns and get disoriented on your first visit to the medina.

A guide, on the other hand, may be an excellent method to ensure you don’t get lost if you have a lousy sense of direction, are extremely frightened, or want to make sure you visit all of the important attractions in the medina in a short amount of time. If you do decide to hire one, be sure you book a licensed guide via your hotel or the tourist office; they will be able to provide you with authentic historical information and will make fewer shopping stops. Faux-guides, in instance, will merely drive you from store to store, pressuring you to purchase items that will cost you more since the vendor will be required to pay the guide a hidden fee.

There are some basic landmarks to help you navigate, as well as a trail network identified by signs affixed to walls, however these may be difficult to find at times. These markers, which are in the form of an eight-pointed star, will direct you between the medina’s key attractions. If you get disoriented, all you have to do is locate one of these signs and follow it in any direction until you reach a map or a well-known location. You may also want to bring a compass with you, since the tight, congested streets can obscure landmarks and make navigation difficult. Alternatively, continue downward and you will soon come to a gate. The Talaa Kbira, which extends from Bab Boujeloud to the Kairouine mosque in the centre of the medina, is the principal thoroughfare. At Bab Boujeloud, the Talaa Sghira starts and ultimately unites with the Talaa Kbira. Once you’ve entered the medina’s tight, winding center, you may find your way out by always continuing downwards, which will ultimately lead to the Place R’cif, a bus and taxi dropoff where you can grab a petit taxi out of the medina.

Look for the book Fez from Bab to Bab for more thorough tours and instructions (Hammad Berrada). It includes a medina map as well as various well-described walking tours. It may be found in most bookstores, both on the Talaa Sghira and at the ville nouvelle’s enormous bookstore on Avenue Hassan II. However, if you take out your map in public, you will be bombarded with offers from imposters.

Districts & Neighbourhoods In Fez

Administratively, the prefecture is split into the following subdivisions:

Name Geographic code Type Households Population (2004) Foreign population Moroccan population
Agdal 231.01.01. Arrondissement 32740 144064 747 143317
Mechouar Fes Jdid 231.01.03. Municipality 6097 26078 83 25995
Saiss 231.01.05. Arrondissement 32990 156590 561 156029
Fes-Medina 231.01.07. Arrondissement 20088 91473 110 91363
Jnan El Ouard 231.01.09. Arrondissement 32618 174226 15 174211
El Mariniyine 231.01.11. Arrondissement 37958 163291 40 163251
Oulad Tayeb 231.81.01. Rural commune 3233 19144 3 19141
Ain Bida 231.81.03. Rural commune 1146 6854 0 6854
Sidi Harazem 231.81.05. Rural commune 982 5133 0 5133

Prices In Fez

Tourist (Backpacker) – 36 $ per day. Estimated cost per 1 day including:meals in cheap restaurant, public transport, cheap hotel.

Tourist (regular) – 94 $ per day. Estimated cost per 1 day including:mid-range meals and drinks,transportation, hotel.

MARKET / SUPERMARKET

Milk 1 liter $0.72
Tomatoes 1 kg $0.45
Cheese 0.5 kg $7.65
Apples 1 kg $1.05
Oranges 1 kg $0.73
Beer (domestic) 0.5 l $2.08
Bottle of Wine 1 bottle $7.25
Coca-Cola 2 liters $
Bread 1 piece $0.35
Water 1.5 l $0.63

RESTAURANTS

Dinner (Low-range) for 2 $
Dinner (Mid-range) for 2 $
Dinner (High-range) for 2 $
Mac Meal or similar 1 meal $5.20
Water 0.33 l $0.40
Cappuccino 1 cup $1.30
Beer (Imported) 0.33 l $3.10
Beer (domestic) 0.5 l $
Coca-Cola 0.33 l $0.60
Coctail drink 1 drink $

ENTERTAINMENT

Cinema 2 tickets $
Gym 1 month $
Men’s Haircut 1 haircut $
Theatar 2 tickets $
Mobile (prepaid) 1 min. $0.21
Pack of Marlboro 1 pack $3.50

PERSONAL CARE

Antibiotics 1 pack $
Tampons 32 pieces $
Deodorant 50 ml. $3.90
Shampoo 400 ml. $4.10
Toilet paper 4 rolls $1.05
Toothpaste 1 tube $1.60

CLOTHES / SHOES

Jeans (Levis 501 or similar) 1 $
Dress summer (Zara, H&M) 1 $42.00
Sport shoes (Nike, Adidas) 1 $78.00
Leather shoes 1 $63.00

TRANSPORTATION

Gasoline 1 liter $1.04
Taxi Start $0.65
Taxi 1 km $0.65
Local Transport 1 ticket $

Sights & Landmarks In Fez

Simply wandering around can reveal a tremendous lot!

Get a shave in the medina; it’s the cheapest everywhere, and the staff is really attentive, including clipping your hair.

The multicolored leather-dying pits are located in the maze-like medina. Numerous little lads will volunteer to bring you there: only listen for the phrase “you want to tour the tanneries?” The tour is complimentary (though it is appropriate to offer 1-5 dirhams to your “guide”). There is no opportunity of seeing the tanneries alone; rather, be prepared to face violent violence for even attempting! However, about 10m left of the entry is a leather store that provides complimentary views of the tannery, which may be seen from the balcony. Anticipate being pressed into purchasing products from the business in exchange.

To get access to the tannery, wait at the entrance until someone offers to take you in for ten dirham. He will guide you through the door and then allow you to stroll among the employees. A word of advice…wear closed shoes and, if you have a sensitive stomach, bring a mint leaf to smell.

Bou Inania madersa is a magnificent fourteenth-century religious college. The finest specimen of Islamic architecture that a non-Muslim may view in Fez, with intricately carved wooden walls decorated with geometric designs and Arabic writing, as well as a magnificent tower. A portico with a still-functioning mosque is located in the courtyard, separated from the remainder of the courtyard by a small moat.

The view from the hills around the ancient city is breathtaking—there are two strongholds overlooking the old city: the Borj Nord, which houses an arms museum, and the Borj Sud, which is now being built for tourism.

The Merenid Tombs, located next to the Merenid Hotel, provide great panoramic views of the medina and larger city, as well as the olive tree-lined hills that surround the city, providing a haven from the city’s bustle. Be cautious of the strange opportunistic tout.

The terrace of the Sofitel Palais Jamai offers an amazing view of the medina provided you are ready to spend 30 dirhams for a glass of tea. This is especially valuable if you can arrange your visit to coincide with the call to prayer, since the terrace offers views of various minarets.

Although access to the Moulay Idriss II mausoleum, which contains the grave of Fez’s founder, is restricted to Muslims, the vista from just beyond its gates is definitely worth seeking out. The mosque is located near the Souk Attarine, right off the Talaa Kbira.

Similarly, the Qaraouyine library and mosque, as well as the al-Tijani mosque, have magnificently designed exteriors that are worth seeing even by those who are not permitted to enter, which includes all non-Muslim tourists.

Things To Do In Fez

A visit to the medina is one of the most exciting activities in Fez (Old City). The medina is so intricate to traverse that it’s often simpler to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the numerous marketplaces and then find your way out after you’ve had your fill of the sights, sounds, and scents. You’ll ultimately find your way out via an abundance of dried fruit, leather products, pottery, textiles, and food booths!

Make a point of escaping the congestion of the streets and seeing the medina from one of its roofs – some businesses and restaurants offer rooftop terraces (see the food section below for some useful tips). The vistas are especially stunning around sunset and after dark.

  • The Berber pharmacy (in the Medina). Hundreds of jars of twisted root and twig are carefully lined up along the walls of the Berber pharmacy (in the Medina). Avoid eating the seed-pod-like items offered by the owner. While he is eating them as well, they are very rich in estrogen and may cause painful nipples for many days afterwards.
  • Quartier des tanneurs (The Tanneries). In the medina’s tanneries, leather-making skills have remained almost untouched since the Middle Ages. Men navigate the tiny passages between enormous vats of lye and vibrant colors, water wheels groan as the leather is washed, and the houses front the tannery are hung with pelts. Visit early in the morning, before the sun rises above the tannery and the stink begins to pervade.

The Tanners’ Quarter (The Tanneries). In the medina’s tanneries, leather-making skills have remained almost untouched since the Middle Ages. Men navigate the tiny passages between enormous vats of lye and vibrant colors, water wheels groan as the leather is washed, and the houses front the tannery are hung with pelts. Visit early in the morning, before the sun rises above the tannery and the stink begins to pervade.

Food & Restaurants In Fez

The markets at Bab Boujeloud’s’main’ entrance (near Hotel Cascades) are brimming with delicious cuisine. It’s worth walking among them and purchasing odd food items. Street food is typically inexpensive and safe. Restaurants, even inexpensive ones, may cost up to twice as much as street food, with the same quality. Other than in the Bab Boujeloud neighborhood, finding affordable meals in the medina is tough. There are just a few tourist restaurants where you will be ripped off, as well as a few food booths near the R’cif location, where you will be ripped off.

Budget Restaurants In Fez

Snack Omar

Rue de la Poste (Batha area, around the corner of the Postoffice,), +212 535 74 19 23, +212 6 66 20 22 30. 10AM – 11PM. 

The restaurant has a simple design with a take-out counter, yet it is quite comfortable, clean, and serves excellent meals. A excellent restaurant for a dinner party of up to 15-20 people or a late-afternoon snack. Traditional Moroccan dishes such as Tajines, Pastilla, and Meschwi are available, but you may also order Pizza or Spaghetti if you want. The workers are quite kind and greet you as though you were a welcome visitor. The food is delicious, and the prices are reasonable. For example, a Tajine costs 45 MAD! You should definitely try the Pastilla or the Meschwi, both of which are delicious (order the last one in advance).

Mezzanine

17, Kasbat Chams (In front of the jnaj sbil garden, less than 50 meters from the place Boujeloud),  +212 11078336, e-mail:[email protected]

Mezzanine is a three-story restaurant with an extra outside patio that has a nice lounge bar for a quiet and tapas as well as a wide comfortable sitting space for meals and groups.

Le Kasbah

(near Bab Boujloud)

Friendly service, a good assortment of affordable Moroccan staples (great vegetarian tagine), and a couple of gorgeous high terraces with views over the Gate and the medina on one side and the medina on the other. It’s a relaxing atmosphere in which to meet other travelers and a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of the medina’s busy streets. It is permissible to consume street cuisine on the terraces. You simply have to pay for the drink and the service.

Fez Lounge

+212 535633097. 95, Zkak Rouah- Tala Kbira

The latest addition to the medina scene is along the Tala Kbira, on a short street on your right)or F Lounge. Fez Lounge is highly recommended for its Mediterranean influenced tapas such as Camembert bruschetta with walnuts and balsamic vinegar or its famed warm brownie with chocolate, with dark grey tadelakt walls and an aura of an ultra modern Arab fantasy. Pastilla and tajines, two traditional Moroccan meals, are also offered. From the design of the tables to the dark lighting and Hotel Costes Music, you can sense the Italian influence.

Café Medina

(near Bab Boujloud)

Delicious and cozy café-style eatery, however it may get too touristic. The food is excellent, particularly the “boricuas” (deep fried thin dough layers wrapping meat-chicken-rice fillings). The mains begin at 60dh.

Restaurant Bouinania

(near Bab Boujloud)

On the carpeted second floor, enjoy a leisurely lunch on the patio or a leisurely evening. The service is quite pleasant, and they are more than eager to fire up the grill and prepare the first brochettes of the day for you. The tagine, couscous, and other essentials are cooked to perfection. Prices start at roughly 40 dh, but may be negotiated down to 25 dh.

Cafe Clock

(near Bab Boujloud)

A beautifully preserved home in the ancient medina has been converted into a café. The folks are kind (and speak English), and the meal is delicious. Request a seat on the patio and listen for the call to prayer coming from one of the nearby minarets. Bring a camera with you, particularly if you’re going during the day.

Restaurant Typique Marocain Jenno

+212 0611073294. Address 1112 Ouad Zhoun, Fes Medina. 

Salad and main course are 50Dh. Couscous has a lot of flavor. The proprietor is fluent in English and has a lot of intriguing tales to share.

Mid-range Restaurants In Fez

Le Palais de Fes

(Also known as Dar Tazi (Place R’cif).).

Dar Tazi, a rooftop restaurant over a carpet business, serves the greatest pastilla and other traditional delicacies in Fez. Although the stairwell is steep and tight, the meal and scenery are well worth the effort. 350dh.

Palais des Merinides

(Talaa Kbira)

In a very large setting, table d’hote meals featuring fundamental Moroccan delicacies are served. The quality was mediocre, but the setting was spectacular.

San Remo

Tired of couscous and tajine? Then there’s this Moroccan-owned Italian restaurant in town’s new section. It has a great Italian deli with a variety of pasta and pizza meals for a reasonable price, just across from the police station.

High-End Restaurants In Fez

L’Ambre

(in the heart of the medina).

In all of Morocco, this is the most sophisticated and finest eating experience. Food is served in one of three rooms, including a beautiful patio, and features unique Moroccan cuisine.

Shopping In Fez

Although some believe Fez to be Morocco’s handcraft center, the quality and worth of its items might be hit or miss. Leather items, copper, and brassware are among the deals to be acquired, while drums and other musical instruments may also be found at reasonable costs.

As a general estimate, you should budget for:

  • Leather satchel: Dh 200 – Dh 400 depending on quality
  • Drums: Dh 30 – Dh 150 depending on size and quality
  • Tagine dish (see picture): 10 Dh – 20 Dh for a full size tagine dish, plus an extra Dh 10 if it’s been varnished and / or decorated.

If you’re interested in cobalt-blue pottery, you may visit one of the potteries that produces it. It’s amazing to watch how quickly they can turn clay into a tagine in 45 seconds. A cab ride from Bab el-Ftouh costs 5 dirhams. Request that the driver drop you down at “Les potteries de Fez.” There are two large “factories” where you can either observe the whole process or simply look at the exhibits (and buy). Bargaining is very difficult; prices seem to be set, but they are not!

Nightlife In Fez

In Fez, hotel bars make up almost all of the drinking facilities. The remainder are local pubs where ladies and anyone who do not speak Arabic well may feel uncomfortable. Prostitutes are common in both types of pubs, although they mainly avoid western tourists. Fes is a far more traditional town than Casablanca or Marrakesh, and drinking in public is strictly prohibited. Purchasing alcohol or being inebriated would elicit severe stares from onlookers.

The Bar at Hotel Batha

Two bars are located at the back of Hotel Batha, the first of which is more of a lounge with nice leather chairs and fireplaces. It is unquestionably the more stately of the two alternatives. A nightclub-style bar in the back is typically unoccupied and seldom open.

Restaurant International

(The Car Park at Av. Abdellah Chefchawni). 

This little establishment is easy to ignore, but the fact that the exterior windows are mirrored should serve as a warning that it will not be on any tourist itineraries. Foreigners might anticipate a few stares and side glances since the gathering is entirely made up of locals. They provide a standard beer selection as well as some of the greatest spaghetti and pizza in town. Avoid the midway story since the band is generally playing terrible synthesizer-Arabic music. Also, unless you’re seeking for prostitutes, stay away from the basement.

The White Souk / Marché Centrale

(on Blvd Mohammed V). 

If you prefer to drink at home, this is a fantastic location to go. On each side of the Souk, there are two brick-and-mortar liquor shops, and many of the traders within retain secret stashes for thirsty Westerners.

Mezzanine

Mezzanine is a three-story restaurant with an extra outside patio that has a nice lounge bar for a quiet and tapas as well as a wide comfortable sitting space for meals and groups. With its permanent DJ, Mezzanine morphs from a daytime lounge into one of Fez’s most cosmopolitan dining, music, and venues. Open nonstop from 12:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. On the patio, sip a drink, a beer, or a glass of wine. It’s very unique.

L’Alcazar Bar

Riad Fes, 5 Derb Ben Slimane Zerbtana

L’Alcazar Bar is a peaceful sanctuary of relaxation and refreshment after a high-energy day in the Medina, the ideal setting for a memorable time with friends and family.

Stay Safe & Healthy In Fez

Fez is a secure city, but it is also quite busy. Take basic measures with your wallet, pocketbook, and other valuables. If you hear “Belek! Belek!” behind you, take a step back because a heavily-laden donkey is approaching! If you give the impression that you know where you’re going, even if you don’t, you’ll receive offers from imposters. False guides aren’t hazardous, but they may be quite persistent. The best strategy is to ignore their existence entirely. That is impolite, and they will be offended, but it is preferable than having them accompany you on a half-hour stroll. If you need directions, ask someone who seems to be preoccupied with their own business or a merchant behind a counter, and attempt to look as certain as possible about the direction you’re heading (“This way to Bab R’cif, right?”). If you’re found with a fake guide, you’ll pay a price, but the fake guide will pay much more: they might face up to two days in jail if detected. Be aware of cops who are dressed casually. Saying all the lines they’ve been taught before they’ve spoken them to demonstrate you know what you’re doing is a good tactic with bogus mentors; they all say the same thing, so simply memorize it and repeat it.

Hustlers (also known as con artists) are likewise to be avoided; Fez has a far higher number of them than virtually anywhere else, and they utilize more sophisticated tactics. A common scam involves arriving in Fez by train and being approached by someone who claims to be visiting family but is really a respected stranger (e.g. an owner of a hotel). He’ll invite you to eat with his relatives, and when you arrive, they’ll spend the majority of your time trying to find you a place to stay, offering you tours where they profit from all the (especially Carpet) shops, and even organizing expensive desert excursions that consist of you driving in circles just outside the city for three days.

People at the train/bus station (including the bus driver) who introduce you to their “cousins” or “brothers” in the hopes of luring you into a carpet-selling scam should be avoided, and you should never give over your credit card in such instances. There are several additional frauds and annoyances aimed at luring you into a store, restaurant, or hotel, with varying degrees of deception in the tales individuals fabricate. If in doubt, be self-reliant and investigate if the hotel you wish to visit is indeed closed or under renovation.

Unfortunately, one of the tragic aspects of Morocco is that you come to mistrust everyone, even those who are truly pleasant and welcoming, since this may sometimes be a ruse.

Fez takes a complete mindset shift for a North American traveler, otherwise it will be a very stressful experience! Shopkeepers and tour guides are abrasive, so you’ll have to get accustomed to saying “no” often. They may, on the other hand, be really warm and nice even while attempting to sell you something, which is a concept that is foreign to North Americans, who believe that a commercial connection should be the polar opposite of sincerity!

Women traveling alone in Morocco may face harassment, as they do everywhere in the country.

Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter mosques, however they are permitted to enter medersas (religious schools).

Bargaining has been a part of life for generations and shows no signs of disappearing. Moroccans even barter for everything, with the exception of their utilities. Don’t trust anybody who tells you that prices are “controlled.” You’ll hear it all the time. Every other souk advertises itself as a “Government Regulated Cooperative.”

In the Ville Nouvelle, there is a solitary, true government-regulated fixed price store where all prices are listed, the items are of reasonable (though not exceptional) quality, and the sole bored cashier will merely gaze at you blankly if you try to haggle with him. Request a ride to the “Artisana” from any hotel management or small taxi driver. All of the items offered at Artisanas are straight from the artists who created them.

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